HAILEY
Six years later…
It was Sunday morning, and Percie just came back from his run. It was a part of my daily routine to wake up early since we got married almost three years ago, just right after I graduated from college.
“Baby, you came back early.” I kissed him on his lips.
He was sweating everywhere.
I gave him a towel. “And please, don’t wake them up until Grands and your parents arrive. Mom and Dad are on their way.”
“I missed you as soon as left the house.” He smiled, wiping off the sweat on his forehead.
I rolled my eyes. “I thought after what we did last night, you won’t miss me until you go on your business trip on Monday.”
I suddenly remembered how we made love last night. He never ceased to amaze me. I could guarantee the saying rock your world was so real. He was still hot in bed. The sex was always amazing even if we’d been together as a couple for a
PERCIE Dustin’s party is superb. I constantly checked my phone for a text from Emma since I arrived at the condemned abandoned house. At this moment, she was enjoying the party at Chloe’s, one of her closest friends. I still couldn’t believe that high school life was finally over. It would only mean one thing—we were getting older. In a few months, we were be both attending college and moved into one apartment as we’d planned. I sipped the soda that started to warm in my grasp. Unlike my friends, they managed to sneak a few beers into the party. My friends were already with their girls. Well, except for me. The pop music was blaring too loud for my taste. I preferred classic and alternative rock—the only thing that Emma and I did not get along with. She loved pop singers—Harry Styles, in particular. Thank God she wasn’t like a Bieber fan or Kpop because I would delete her playlists if she liked t
PERCIE I laid back on the cold tiled bench with my arms as my pillow. I looked up at the gray ceiling without anything in my thoughts. I was bored to death for the last five hours, locked up for punching my boss in the face. He hithis wife in front of his car repair shop where I worked as a mechanic--well, used to, since he just fired me. Who was in the fucking hell hurt women if not some losers like him? I didn’t like people hitting women because they would look misogynistic. When I saw him yell at his wife, my fists developed brains on their own. Whatever she did, that didn’t give him the right to hit her. He could confront her privately, but he was an asshole. My anger took over me. So, I punched him before I even realized I did it, which resulted in me getting arrested for physical assault. I didn’t enjoy seeing women being abused, bullied, and men thought that made them stronger. Women were born to be loved and respected u
PERCIE The last time I saw a house like this was when I was with her. Just that memory alone felt like I'd been stabbed in my heart over and over again. “Son, let me ask you one thing. Why did you risk yourself punching your boss when you saw him hitting his wife?” My eyes narrowed at his intrusion. “Is it a defense mechanism? Or because you didn’t like him abusing his wife in front of everyone?” I opened the door and got out silently. He didn’t want to go there. He leaned his arms against the roof of his car and said, “I don’t wanna know, son, but whatever it is, I know it’s hard for you, and it may take some time. But you will get there. My nose flared in anger and in pain. I pressed my lips together to stop from blurting out something he wasn't ready to hear. I just punched someone a few hours ago. I couldn’t punch him, and besides, he was a police officer.
PERCIE Fifteenmonths ago… We were in an accident. My ears still tingled from the silence after the impact. I couldn’t move. Emma was pressed against me. “E-Em?”I coughed. My voice trembled. “Em?”My throat choked up. She didn’t respond. She didn’t move. I wanted to shake her badly, but I was so weak to do so. I smelled blood. It rolled down my temple to my face and neck. The smoke started to sting my nostrils. I started to hear noises from outside the car. The commotion escalated. The sirens of the ambulance resounded. Although my eyes were blurry, I whirled my gaze around and saw a bunch of heads surrounding us and the flashes of lights. I thought I was okay. I could still remember the paramedics who arrived and took me from the collision. Unfortunately, Emma wasn’t. I w
PERCIE It had been a week since I met Hailey. I was not supposed to think about her, but I couldn’t just stop, and it was starting to get annoying. It was maybe because they somehow looked alike. I started looking at myself in the mirror, counting our similarities. She didn’t talk much, as if socially withdrawn. She only said five words during the entire dinner then she excused herself. Keith mentioned that she would be starting her college at Hillston this semester. What a coincidence. My stupid inner-self somehow hoped for the possibility that we might bump with each other. As he promised, he took my number. Now, we were constantly exchanging texts. He even invited me for dinner again. I made an excuse that I couldn’t make it, which was the truth. I had to meet Grandpa every Saturday. But Keith didn’t buy my excuse. So I had to meet him again. Grandpa was relieved that I started talking to someo
PERCIEFifteen months ago…“I knew what you have, Emma. I knew about your condition. Why can’t you blame me? Yell at me or hate me? It makes me guiltier. Why do you have to be so cool about this?” I shook my head and stood up from her bed. I scratched my head out of frustration.“You sound okay with this. I hate seeing you like this. It’s killing me, Emma. Tell me why it’s so easy for you to accept all of these?” My voice rose a little.Her lips quivered. Jesus. Nothing in this world I did right. I settled beside her again as I dwelled my own agony.“I’m sorry, Em. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to put myself in this situation. I don’t even know what to do with myself without you. I don’t mean to yell at you. I’m just so frustrated and lost that I am so useless to you.” I kissed her forehead. ”Emma, I love you
PERCIE Fourteen months ago. My life was doomed the moment I walked out of the house where I grew up. I just lost everyone I loved. I lost my home, Emma, my family, friends, and even myself. I knew I was still alive because I could still feel the excruciating pain when I thought of them. My old life two months ago was near perfect, and everything went according to plan until that incident had drastically changed my life. I loathed myself. But I guessed I deserved to feel every agonizing pain I felt right now. When I arrived at my grandparent's house, they were already waiting for me. I could see the pain in their eyes. I cried until I gave up, but the pain was still there. It was even worse. I couldn’t eat. The food was upsetting my stomach. I couldn’t sleep. The nightmare was constantly visiting me the moment I closed my eyes. I kept myself awake, listening to o
PERCIE I called Grandpa that night after coming home from dinner at Ward’s house. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to live with a young woman on the same roof? I’m not worried about you, but about that girl. She’s a cop’s daughter, Percival.” He sighed from the other line. “And what is the problem there? She won’t stay here long once she finds a roommate.” “And if she won’t? You’re a young man, Percival. How about the temptations? When was the last time you get laid? Or jerked off yourself?” My face heated with embarrassment. Why grandpa had to remind me of my boring sex life?Jeez. “Jesus, Grandpa. Can we not talk about my sex life, please?” I rolled my eyes. This is not the topic I wanted to talk about with him, but he had a point. “Up to you, Percival, but if it helps you improve your social skills, then go ahead. Just treat her right, and behave, okay?”
HAILEY Six years later… It was Sunday morning, and Percie just came back from his run. It was a part of my daily routine to wake up early since we got married almost three years ago, just right after I graduated from college. “Baby, you came back early.” I kissed him on his lips. He was sweating everywhere. I gave him a towel. “And please, don’t wake them up until Grands and your parents arrive. Mom and Dad are on their way.” “I missed you as soon as left the house.” He smiled, wiping off the sweat on his forehead. I rolled my eyes. “I thought after what we did last night, you won’t miss me until you go on your business trip on Monday.” I suddenly remembered how we made love last night. He never ceased to amaze me. I could guarantee the saying rock your world was so real. He was still hot in bed. The sex was always amazing even if we’d been together as a couple for a
HAILEY Percie’s parents visit turned into a small party. His grandparents, my family, friends, and even Remy came over. It was just a click on Percie’s phone everyone we cared about came over. Mrs. Matthews had been great to me. She squeezed me into a hug when she saw me wearing her son’s engagement ring. She held my hand and looked closely at the ring on my finger. “This is so beautiful.” She smiled. “Beautiful for a beautiful young woman. Please, don’t break my son’s heart.” “Thank you, and I have no intention to.” I did a quick glance at my man chatting with Remy and his father at the corner of the living room.” “Now, I can rest. Percie has just been through a lot to have another heartbreak, but I know he’s in good hands. Thank you, dear.” She kissed me on my cheek. Percie saw us, and he was smiling at me. When his mom left me in the kitchen, I tried my best not to roll my eyes when Victoria, Lexie, and
PERCIE The feel of her tight, warm wet folds around my stiff cock made me moan in pleasure. “Fuck yes.” I looked at her, stark naked, dark eyes staring back at me. My hips flexed of their own will, sending my hard cock even deeper into her heat. My hand encircled around her slender waist, pulling my cock out slowly, and then she began to slide it slowly in, rolling her lips teasingly. She bit the bottom of her lip to stifle her moan. She failed anyway. I cupped her full round tits with my hands and sat up to suck her small bud nipple into my mouth, circling with my tongue. The sound of her moan was like music to my ears. “Percie.” She arched into my mouth, asking for more. I tugged and bit her nipple with my teeth, causing her to gasp. I did it again, sucking alternately. Something about how she called my name in pleasure made me hungrier. I flipped her over on her back. She laid there with her big dark eyes, staring back at me,
PERCIE “Hey.” I moistened my lips. I wanted to say something—anything, but words wouldn’t come out. “Hi.” Surprised, she swallowed. Her gaze dropped to the box in my hand, then glanced back at me. I waited for her to start, but it didn’t come. “Oh, uh.” I looked at the box. “This is not for you.” I went silent, stunned. Then something in her expression caused me excruciating pain. Finally, it came to my senses. “I mean, this is not mine. I mean, it’s mine now. It’s from Emma.” I stopped. I screwed big time. “This is one of a few things she left for me.” “I understand. You don’t have to explain,” she interrupted, eyes glittering. “Anyway, I just come here to take my things.” “What do you mean?” I stalked her to the living room. “Victoria is looking for a roommate. As we agreed before, I’ll leave as soon as I find a new roommate.” “Don’t leave, please?” My voice choked with raw emotions.
PERCIE Hailey was true to her words in giving me the space I needed. She ignored me for the whole month. She even temporarily crashed at Victoria’s apartment. We rarely saw if not on the campus, but she barely looked at me. Her friends were still upset with me—they said, for breaking Hailey’s heart. Lexie was still giving me the cold shoulder. I thought I deserved it all. I was invited to Ward’s family dinner, and that was the most awkward dinner I’d ever had. Her words were taunting. The pain was hard to bear. As soon as it ended, I left right away and drowned myself in alcohol. I visited Remy in rehab as frequently as I could. “Shouldn’t you be with Hailey, groveling? You know, there’s a Filipino culture when courting a girl. The man plays guitar outside the house and sings for her. Why don’t you try it? It might work.” I glared at him. “Just get better, asshole.” “What do you think I’m doing? It’s not that I can threa
PERCIE How the hell did she find me? I drew in a long shuddering breath as I opened the door. I was wide awake, wincing in pain as Grandma kept on hitting me with her clutch. “Ow! What the hell?” I managed to block her with my arms. “What are you doing? Stop it!” She didn’t stop. “I won’t stop until I get the answer on what the hell are you doing here?” I stared at her in disbelief. Then I suddenly realized what she meant. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Good to see you too, Grandma.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “You will stand up and drive me to your apartment. I paid a hefty amount not for you to just desert it because you’re stupid again. You will come here and stay with your mom and dad on weekends. Now get up, or I will let my driver drag you out of the house.” I remembered Grandma like this when I stayed with them before visited Emma for the first time. She was wearing the same an
PERCIEI snatched another sandwich on the plate and apple on the fruit basket before I dashed out of the kitchen.“Finish your breakfast, Percie!” Mom called out.“Gonna be late!”“You need to call your Grandpa, Percie.” Mom followed me outside the house.My car was already in the driveway. Mom’s driver gave me my car key. “I will. Thanks, Elliot.”“Percival!” Mom’s annoying voice made me stop.I groaned. “Fine. I’m gonna be late for my class.”“You’re coming home tonight, right?” I watched her eyes light up with hope.“Sure. Can I go now?”“Drive safe, honey.”I looked at her again. I had not heard the word honey in a long time. I still felt cynical about a sudden change of heart. At this moment, I needed them and a room to stay.My
PERCIE I had not shed a tear, which honestly made things worse. I stared at the house in front of me. It was a miracle how I got in here unscathed. And I didn’t know how I was still standing. The main door swung open, revealing my dad. His walk forward felt like an eternity before he reached closer to me. “You can shove anything into my face all you want. I don’t give a fuck. I wanna stay. You can call the cops and let them drag me out, but I will still come back. I have nowhere to go right now where no one will find me. This is the last place they’re gonna look for me.” I wiped my face. His eyes widened. “Are you in some kind of trouble?” “With the authority? Not that I know of. Can I come in?” He nodded quickly. “Did you bring something with you?” “No.” Dad guided me inside and locked the door behind me. “Can you ask your driver to keep my car in your garage?” “Of course.” He took the key from m
PERCIE Call me coward, an idiot, but after watching Remy’s lifeless body, fighting for his life for the choice he made, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to go away. Since the doctor said that Remy would pull it through, I was beyond relieved that I didn’t have to carry the guilt with me for the rest of my life. It hurt as fuck as I walked out of his room while he was still unconscious. I just wished I could say something to him before I left, but on the other thought, it would just make it difficult for me. When someone said to me right now that everything happened for a reason, I already punched him in the face. If the reason for losing Emma was finding Remy, it was bullshit—a fucking cruel twist of fate. Why the fuck they both had to suffer? Why did I have to watch them suffer? It felt like a deja vu, all over again. I couldn’t think about them without that horrible image of Emma and Remy lying in the hospital bed. “Percie?” I